. >> south africa lost his greatest son, they are the words that president zoouma used to break his news to the world that nelson mandela decide. >> fellow south africans, our e beloved nelson mandela, the founding president of a democratic nation has departed. he passed on peacefully in the company of his family around 2050 on the 5th of december, 2013. he is now resting. he is now at peace. our nation has lost its greatest son. our people have lost a father. >> well, we go live to sowetto, where nelson mandela's story began. you are outside the house where he used to live. tell us what is going on there. >> well, mixed emotion, we saw a child crying because she was shocked to here that nelson mandela passed away. people were celebrating. it's early morning. people have woken up. they are on their way to work. some are passing by. we have mixed emotions. one person we are speaking to now, he came here, and see the wall. he wrote a message for nelson mandela. what did you write? >> i said, "we love you and we're going to miss you." >> where were you when you heard the news? how did you r

. >> president zoouma calling for a -- jacob zuma calling for a day of prayer and it's thought sinnagogs and churches will talk about nelson mandela. the biggest catholic church in a largely christian country said the message is simple - nelson mandela paved the way, now we have to walk the path. that was his message to everybody, 1,000 or so gathered as a congregation. that was his message. he did great things. we have to honour him by taking them and moving ahead. >> thank you so much. >> while south africa conditions to celebrate the life and legacy of nelson mandela many acknowledge that lasting impact of years of forced racial separation. al jazeera's correspondent met to meet an interracial couple to talk about the task of racial integration that lies ahead. >> this couple are married. during apartheid relationships between whites and nonwhites prosecutor illegal. nelson mandela fought four equality. now they don't have to hide their relationship. being a mixed couple still have challenges. >> people accept that we are married, but not this close. it's okay to work and have cof

president zoouma saying that he -- jacob zuma saying that he died peacefully at home. jacob zuma went on to say, "our nation has lost its greatest son, our people have lost a father", jacob zuma made history becoming the first democratically elected president in 1974. he did it after spending 27 years in prison. mike hanna looks back on the life of a man who became a global figure. >> death does not deminnish the memory of beaming smile or the twinkle in the eyes. outside the hospital where nelson mandela laid, the crowds have been intent on celebrating a life as much as mourning his death. it was a life richly lived, one in which nelson mandela was prepared to give up everything, including this freedom, for what he believed. >> many feel it is useless and futile for us to talk piece against a government who attacks unarm people. he spent $10,053 days in prison. for the public through decades. nelson mandela was a pace on a poster. few in south africa saw. in february 1990 he walked out of prison and returned to sow eto as a freeman. among his first words a tribute to